A Stay at InterContinental Osaka: IHG's Flagship Deepens its Presence in the City with Rooms Featuring a Contemporary Fusion of Japanese and Western Aesthetics

A stay at the InterContinental Osaka.

UK-based IHG Hotels & Resorts is a supporting partner of the UK Pavilion at the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

The company has been significantly strengthening its presence in the Osaka area in recent years. The historic Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka joined IHG in June 2023 and is set to be rebranded as the "Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka - Vignette Collection" in 2025 following a major renovation. Additionally, IHG will launch its "Garner" brand in Japan for the first time in 2025, opening three hotels at once in Osaka.

Furthermore, the company has successively opened the "Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre - Midosuji" in 2021 and "voco Osaka Central" in 2023. The Holiday Inn Express underwent a full-scale renewal the year after its opening, which included redesigning guest rooms and restaurants and adding a new fitness gym.

Expanding its portfolio across the wider Kansai region, IHG has already opened "Six Senses Kyoto" in 2024 and plans to open "Regent Kyoto" in 2028.

As of June 2025, IHG operates 10 hotels across 7 brands in Osaka City, totaling 3,249 rooms. Abhijay Sandilya, CEO of IHG-ANA Hotels Group Japan, who provided an overview of the current situation in Osaka and Japan, stated, "It is crucial to introduce Japan's wonderful tourism resources to international travelers. We want to convey the quality of Hokkaido's snow, the beauty of Okinawa's beaches, and the vibrant cityscape of Osaka to our overseas guests."

"As a resident of Japan myself, I can confidently say that Japan is an incredibly exciting travel destination from a global perspective," he added, expressing high hopes for further growth as a leading international hotel group in Osaka.

Notably, the InterContinental Osaka, where Mr. Sandilya held the press conference, is IHG's flagship hotel in Japan, uniquely owned and directly managed by the company. I recently had the opportunity to experience a stay there.

Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO, IHG-ANA Hotels Group Japan G.K.

IHG is a supporting partner of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

IHG operates 10 hotels across 7 brands in Osaka, totaling 3,249 rooms.

"InterContinental" is IHG's largest luxury brand worldwide. The InterContinental Osaka (3-60 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka) opened in June 2013 and celebrates its 12th anniversary this year.

Directly connected to JR Osaka Station, the hotel is just a five-minute walk from the station. The spacious 20th-floor lobby, restaurant, and cafe offer panoramic views of the Umeda cityscape through floor-to-ceiling windows. The guest rooms feature contemporary appointments and IHG's global standard of amenities, all while incorporating subtle elements of Japanese design to welcome guests from around the world.

I stayed in a "1 King Premium" room, one of 272 rooms in total, located on the 23rd floor. The 50-square-meter (538 sq. ft.) room features one king bed, a separate bathroom, toilet, and wash area, as well as a walk-in closet and a dedicated desk space.

In addition to the generous 50-square-meter layout, the room is thoughtfully designed to create an even greater sense of spaciousness. This is achieved through large windows, an open furniture arrangement, a glass-walled bathroom, and a glass desk.

The "1 King Premium" room.

An overview of the guest room from the corner.

A plush and substantial king-sized bed. The enveloping pillows ensured a restful night's sleep.

The room is furnished with a sofa and ottoman (left) and a daybed (right), allowing guests to relax as they whether enjoying a drink or lounging after a bath.

On both sides of the headboard, you'll find light controls, power outlets, and USB Type-A charging ports. In a move away from plastic, drinking water is provided in screw-cap aluminum cans.

A 55-inch wall-mounted smart TV, complete with a soundbar.

The refrigerator and minibar are stocked with soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and protein bars. A drawer below contains bottled wine, miniature whiskey bottles, tea, snacks, and a full set of cutlery. The selection is curated based on IHG's group-wide standards.

While the minibar includes tea, a nod to Osaka's proximity to Sakai?a city where Japan's tea ceremony culture flourished?is the inclusion of a traditional Japanese teapot (*kyusu*) and teacups (*yunomi*) as standard amenities.

The separate bathroom is quite spacious. Both the bathtub, large enough for a 178 cm (5'10") person like myself to soak up to their shoulders with legs fully extended, and the separate shower area are generously sized.

A glass desk and chair provide a proper workspace. A panel next to the power outlet opens to reveal a LAN port (cable in the drawer) and an HDMI port for connecting to the TV.

Reflecting Osaka's connection to the tea ceremony culture, a traditional Japanese teapot and teacups are also provided.

The contents of the minibar and refrigerator are selected based on IHG's standards.

The washstand, toilet, and bathroom are all separate. The bathroom is glass-walled, visible from the bedroom, but can be concealed with a sliding door.

The wide-angle photo may make the bathtub seem small, but it's actually large enough for a 178 cm (5'10") person to stretch out and soak. For those accustomed to Japanese bathing customs, a small stool for washing would be a welcome addition.

The bright and user-friendly washstand. A wooden box holds amenities such as razors and toothbrushes.

The walk-in closet, which includes a safety deposit box, offers substantial storage space. *Yukata* (light cotton robes), bathrobes, and slippers are also found here.

The grand, open-plan 20th-floor lobby. The front desk is directly ahead as you exit the elevator.

NOKA Roast & Grill, the hotel's signature restaurant, serves everything from a breakfast buffet to lunch and dinner.

3-60, the cafe lounge located just before NOKA Roast & Grill. Its name comes from the hotel's street address.

Pierre, the French restaurant, has been awarded one star in the Michelin Guide Kyoto-Osaka for nine consecutive years.

The fitness gym, a standard IHG amenity, is located on the 4th floor, separate from the guest room floors. It also features a 20-meter indoor pool.

On the same floor, there is a Japanese-style public bath, a rare feature for an international hotel brand.

MEGURI SPA & WELLNESS, produced by the renowned Osaka-based "THE DAY SPA."

STRESSED, the patisserie on the 1st floor, gets its name from "desserts" spelled backward. With more accessible pricing, it is also popular with non-staying guests.

The Club InterContinental Lounge on the 28th floor. Guests with access can enjoy complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, evening Champagne and cocktails, and nightcaps.